The University of Nebraska – Omaha

Fall 2002: Tu-Th (10-11:15 a.m.)
Room: ASH 392

Edward Abplanalp

ea55720@navix.net

Course Objectives:

1. To raise your understanding of the complex nature of certain prevalent ethical problems.
2. To provide you with a historical background for many of the ethical traditions within Western philosophy.
3. To enable you to communicate in an intelligent manner on ethical issues.
4. To increase your adeptness in critiquing an ethical position.
5. To refine your own ethical position(s).

Grading Policy:

Grades will be calculated as follows:

Exam #1 - 20%
Exam #2 - 20%
Exam #3 - 20%
Exam #4 - 20%
Paper - 20%

Attendance Policy:

Attendance is not required. However, this does not mean that you do not need to come to class. You are responsible for the material we discuss in class - much of which is not in your text. If you miss a class, find out what you missed from a fellow student before the next class.

Paper Requirement:

In order to pass this class you will need to write a satisfactory ethics paper of about 5-6 pages in length. I will collect a first version of your paper on Tuesday November 19th and return it to you on the 26th. The final version of your paper is due at the beginning of class on Thursday December 5th.

Required Text:

The text we will use for this class is The Elements of Moral Philosophy by James Rachels (4th edition): McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Blackboard:

Blackboard (http://blackboard.unomaha.edu) will be used to disseminate information, including the syllabus, course documents, and announcements.

Office Hours:

I have an office hour in ASH 205E from 3-3:50 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons. My office phone number is 554-2947. The department phone number is 554-2628.

General Schedule:

August
Tuesday 27th: Intro to Ethics
Thursday 29th: Intro to Ethics

September
Tuesday 3rd: Ethical Relativism
Thursday 5th: Ethical Relativism
Tuesday 10th: The Fact-Value Distinction
Thursday 12th: Ethical Subjectivism
Tuesday 17th: Ethical Subjectivism
Thursday 19th: Exam #1
Tuesday 24th: The Golden Rule
Thursday 26th: Morality and Religion

October
Tuesday 1st: Divine Command Theory
Thursday 3rd: Divine Command Theory
Tuesday 8th: Natural Law Theory
Thursday 10th: Ethical Egoism
Tuesday 15th: Ethical Egoism
Thursday 17th: Exam #2
Thursday 24th: Utilitarianism
Tuesday 29th: Utilitarianism
Thursday 31st: Utilitarianism

November
Tuesday 5th: Kantianism
Thursday 7th: Kantianism
Tuesday 12th: Kantianism
Thursday 14th: Exam #3
Tuesday 19th: Virtue Theory (First Version of Paper Due)
Thursday 21st: Virtue Theory
Tuesday 26th: Social Contract Theory (First Version of Paper Returned)
Thanksgiving Break

December
Tuesday 3rd: Social Contract Theory
Thursday 5th: Social Contract Theory (Final Version of Paper Due)
Tuesday 10th: Feminism and the Ethics of Care
Thursday 12th: Feminism and the Ethics of Care (Final Version of Paper Returned)
Final exam: to be announced.